Check the calendar and the news cycle fits perfectly. If it’s late August/early September, then all the markers are in place this week. An odyssey through the alphabet soup of GAA disciplinary committees is only to be expected this time of year. So is spiky confrontation on the field, given the size of the prizes on offer; sniping at referees off the field; former players weighing in to defend county colleagues; and of course the SOLD OUT signs, whether real or in online form, that suggest a heaving Croke Park this weekend.

This time last year, the champions of the black card were out in force. With good reason, too. Goals and points were being scored at a rate of knots. It was hailed as the answer to Gaelic football’s ills when in truth it was only a plaster.

The Droopys Cain A1 525 was one of five finals on Saturday night’s 12-race programme at Curraheen Park and Young Legends showed her class with a terrific display for trainer Pat Kiely and owners Master Jack and Master Bryan Kiely, Dungarvan.

All right, so the obvious point: great athletes usually turn out to be stunningly inarticulate about just those qualities and experiences that constitute their fascination.

One of the country’s leading sports business analysts does not believe that any prospective link-up between the GAA and Sky Sports would usher in professionalism.

Eamonn Fitzmaurice’s honest review of Kerry’s loss to Dublin last September was keenly read in Dublin football circles this week.

At long last, a visionary has arrived to remedy the glaring hole in our lives. Grant Best of BT Sport — the people who are taking on Sky Sports — is convinced we don’t see enough of the anonymous drones who play in the Premier League.

ALLIANZ FL DIVISION 1 SEMI-FINAL

Jonathan Sexton’s move to French moneybags Racing Metro, bankrolled by Jacky Lorenzetti, may have come as a surprise to some, but there is method to the madness.

Who loves you Katie?

Lar Corbett could earn as much from punditry this year as he would have done from his profile as a playeraccording to an industry expert.

PAT CURTIN is enjoying an amazing year, thanks to the achievements of Shelbourne Aston. He is now back in another classic final, with Droopys Arsene safely qualified for next Tuesday’s William Hill St Leger at Wimbledon.

GAME DREAM can make it two wins from as many starts by taking the first semi-final of the Michael O’Leary Memorial A5 Stakes at Curraheen Park tonight.

YOU know the surname and its association with high-calibre goalkeeping during Kerry’s golden years.